System and method for solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldier fly composter and auto fish feeder

ABSTRACT

A system, method, and computer program product for an aquaponics, and greenhouse system, includes a solar greenhouse with north, east and west sides insulted and with glazing on a south side angled to maximize winter sunlight, and housing a fish tank with grow beds, and a hard filter filtering water from the fish tank coupled thereto, and including a stilling well inside of a solids collection chamber receiving water from a hard filter geyser pump, and with filter media sections of varying coarseness for providing mechanical filtration therearound, including coarser and finer media section from a bottom to a top of the solids collection chamber, a with air stones on top, and with aquatic plants including algae, and/or Duckweed, providing biological filtration growing on a water surface thereabove. A sponge filter receives overflow water from the aquatic plants and with an output thereof provided to the fish tank.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS

The present invention is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/446,863 of Carlos R. VILLAMAR, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FORSOLAR GREENHOUSE AQUAPONICS AND BLACK SOLDIER FLY COMPOSTER AND AUTOFISH FEEDER,” filed on 1 Mar. 2017, now allowed, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/633,387 ofCarlos R. VILLAMAR, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOLAR GREENHOUSEAQUAPONICS AND BLACK SOLDIER FLY COMPOSTER AND AUTO FISH FEEDER,” filedon 27 Feb. 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,585,315, which claims priority toU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/946,690 of Carlos R.VILLAMAR, entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SOLAR GREENHOUSE AQUAPONICSAND BLACK SOLDIER FLY COMPOSTER AND AUTO FISH FEEDER,” filed on 28 Feb.2014, the entire disclosures of all of which are hereby incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods foraquaponics and greenhouse technologies, and more particularly to systemsand methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldier fly (BSF)composter and auto fish feeder, and the like.

Discussion of the Background

In recent years, aquaponics and greenhouse systems have been developed.However, such systems typically are lacking in effective incorporationof greenhouse and fish feeding systems for the aquaponics, in anefficient and cost-effective manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, there is a need for a method and system that addresses theabove and other problems. The above and other problems are addressed bythe illustrative embodiments of the present invention, which providesystems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldierfly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like.

Accordingly, in illustrative aspects of the present invention there isprovided a system, method and computer program product for anaquaponics, and greenhouse system, includes a solar greenhouse withnorth, east and west sides insulted and with glazing on a south sideangled to maximize winter sunlight, and housing a fish tank with growbeds, and a hard filter filtering water from the fish tank coupledthereto, and including a stilling well inside of a solids collectionchamber receiving water from a hard filter geyser pump, and with filtermedia sections of varying coarseness for providing mechanical filtrationtherearound, including coarser and finer media section from a bottom toa top of the solids collection chamber, a with air stones on top, andwith aquatic plants including algae, and/or Duckweed, providingbiological filtration growing on a water surface thereabove. A spongefilter receives overflow water from the aquatic plants and with anoutput thereof provided to the fish tank.

The system, method and computer program product include a rocket massheater inside the greenhouse to heat the greenhouse and fish tank water,and including an L-shaped mass with an interior metal column with metalcoils wrapped around the metal column to heat water from the fish tankcirculating therethrough.

The system, method and computer program product include a rain watercollection system for the greenhouse to capture rain water from thegreenhouse and to heat fish tank water, and including a rain watercontainer inside the greenhouse to hold the rain water and coupled tothe fish tank, and a rain gutter made of a reflective material providedaround a roof of the greenhouse and coupled to the rain water containerto capture rain water, and a water pump coupled to the rain watercontainer to recirculate the rain from the rain water container to thereflective rain gutter to heat fish tank water.

The system, method and computer program product include a plurality ofhydroponic tanks respectively coupled to the grow beds and also housedwithin the solar greenhouse; and each one of the plurality of grow bedsis coupled to a fish tank geyser pump internal to the fish tank, and ahydroponic tank geyser pump internal to a respective one of thehydroponic tanks. The fish tank and hydroponic tank geyser pumps arepowered by an external air pump via an air selector switch to pump andaerate water from the hydroponic tank to the grow bed and to pump waterfrom the fish tank to the grow bed and aerate water of the fish tank.

The system, method and computer program product include a black soldierfly (BSF) composting and auto fish feeder for converting organic matterinto BSF larvae for fish feed, and including a BSF container having aninternal ramp, and an external ramp, with the internal ramp disposedwithin the BSF container, and with the external ramp coupled to theinternal ramp and disposed over the fish tank so that the BSF larvae cancrawl up the internal ramp and drop off from the external ramp into thefish tank as the fish feed.

The system, method and computer program product include a spectralanalyzer based sensor having a gas probe disposed within the greenhouseto measure air parameters of the greenhouse including temperature,humidity, O2, and CO2 levels in the greenhouse, and a water probedisposed within the fish tank to measure water parameters of the fishtank water including dissolved oxygen, PH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia,and electrical conductivity (EC) levels of the fish tank water, and acomputer coupled to the spectral analyzer based sensor and configured tocontrol one or more of the air and water parameters based on themeasured air and water parameters levels.

Each of the grow beds includes a bell siphon external to the grow bedand configured to drain the water from the grow bed back into the fishtank and from the grow bed back into the respective hydroponic tank, andeach bell siphon includes a bell siphon housing with an open end andclosed top, with the open end of the bell siphon housing coupled to abottom of the grow bed, and a bell siphon standpipe extending within thebell siphon housing and coupled to the fish tank to drain the water fromthe grow bed back into the fish tank, and to the respective hydroponictank via respective valves.

Each of the fish tank and hydroponic tank geyser pumps includes a geyserpump housing with an open bottom and closed top, with an air inletprovided in the geyser pump housing coupled to the air pump, and ageyser pump standpipe extending through the closed top of the geyserpump housing to an inside of the geyser pump housing and coupled to atop of the grow bed to pump and aerate the water from the fish tank orthe respective hydroponic tank to the top of the grow bed.

Still other aspects, features, and advantages of the present inventionare readily apparent from the following detailed description, byillustrating a number of illustrative embodiments and implementations,including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the presentinvention. The present invention is also capable of other and differentembodiments, and its several details can be modified in variousrespects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions are to be regardedas illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by way ofexample, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of theaccompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer tosimilar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view diagram for illustrative systems and methods forsolar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldier fly (BSF) composter andauto fish feeder, and the like;

FIG. 2 is an east view diagram for the illustrative systems and methodsfor solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldier fly (BSF) composterand auto fish feeder, and the like;

FIGS. 3A-3D are diagrams for venting and door layouts for theillustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics andblack soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like;

FIG. 4 is diagram for a black soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fishfeeder for the illustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouseaquaponics and black soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder,and the like;

FIG. 5 is diagram for a rocket mass heater (RMH) for the illustrativesystems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldierfly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like;

FIG. 6 is diagram for a geyser pump (GP) for the illustrative systemsand methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldier fly (BSF)composter and auto fish feeder, and the like;

FIG. 7 is diagram for a bell siphon (BS) for the illustrative systemsand methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldier fly (BSF)composter and auto fish feeder, and the like;

FIG. 8 is diagram for a rain water collection system (RWC) for theillustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics andblack soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like;

FIGS. 9A-9B are diagrams for an auto vent opener system for theillustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics andblack soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like;

FIGS. 10-11 are diagrams for water collection and processing systems forthe illustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics andblack soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like;

FIG. 12 is a diagram for a multi-level system version of theillustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics andblack soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like;

FIG. 13 is a diagram for additional features for the illustrativesystems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldierfly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like;

FIGS. 14A-14B is an illustrative hard filter employed in the systems andmethods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldier fly (BSF)composter and auto fish feeder of FIGS. 1-13;

FIG. 15 is an illustrative geyser pump air distribution configurationemployed in the systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics andblack soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder of FIGS. 1-14 and16-17;

FIG. 16 is an illustrative rocket mass heater configuration employed inthe systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and blacksoldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder of FIGS. 1-15 and 17;and

FIG. 17 is an illustrative on-demand aquaponics or hydroponicsconfiguration employed in the systems and methods for solar greenhouseaquaponics and black soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder ofFIGS. 1-16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designateidentical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and moreparticularly to FIG. 1 thereof, there shown a top view diagram 100 usedfor illustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics andblack soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder systems, and thelike.

In FIG. 1, the system can include a solar greenhouse 102 (e.g., based ona Chinese solar greenhouse design, etc.) having a rocket mass heater 104(RMH, e.g., made from fireplace bricks, metal vents, etc.) foradditional heating the greenhouse and fish tank water, as needed, a rainwater collection system 106 (RWC) for collecting rain water and heatingthe fish tank water, as needed, a fish tank 108 (FT, e.g., circular oroctagonal shaped of 300-400 gallon capacity, cone bottom, etc.) forstocking fish (e.g., Tilapia, catfish, blue gills, perch, etc.), six ormore grow beds 110 (GB, e.g., 27-30 gallon containers, media, deep waterculture, wicking, etc.) arranged around the fish tank 108, and a hardfilter 112 (HT, e.g., including mechanical, biological, chemicalfiltration, UV light sanitation, etc.) for additional filtering of thefish tank water, as needed. Each grow beds 110 is filled with media(e.g., expanded clay, pea gravel, soil, water, etc.) and can be fittedwith respective air pump (not shown) connected to a geyser pump 114 (GP)for pumping and aerating the fish tank water from the fish tank 108 intothe grow bed 110, and a bell siphon 116 for draining the water from thegrow bed 110 to the fish tank 108. The greenhouse 100 can be dug into tothe ground (not shown) with the east, west and north sides insulated bythe earth and with the south side including a glazing 118 (e.g., 8′×4′triple wall polycarbonate panels, greenhouse plastic sheeting, glass,etc.) at an angle to maximize winter sunlight (e.g., as in anearth-sheltered design, etc.). Otherwise, the east, west and north sidescan be insulated using insulation boards (not shown, e.g., 2 inch RmaxThermashield 3 insulation, etc.), and the like. Vents 120 (e.g.,including solar panels, wind turbines, etc., (not shown) to providesolar power, etc.) can be sized based on the greenhouse volume andprovided on the lower east and south walls, on the upper north roof, andon the upper west side for ventilation, as needed, and based on winddirection, and the like. The greenhouse 100 can include a black soldierfly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder 122, and a duckweed auto fishfeeder (not shown, e.g., with duckweed growing on the hard filter 112having output to fish tank 108, etc.).

FIG. 2 is an east view diagram 200 for the illustrative systems andmethods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldier fly (BSF)composter and auto fish feeder, and the like. In FIG. 2, the glazing 118(e.g., 8′×4′ triple wall polycarbonate panels, greenhouse plasticsheeting, glass, etc.) is provided on the south facing wall at an angleto maximize winter (or e.g., summer, spring, fall, etc.) sunlight. Theeast, west and north sides can be insulated using insulation boards 202(e.g., 2 inch Rmax Thermasheath 3 insulation, etc.), and the like. Theinsulation boards 202 can be reflective on the inside and/or outside, asneeded, to reflect and/or trap heat within the greenhouse (e.g., basedon the greenhouse effect, etc.). A solar blanket (not shown, e.g.,automatically controlled, etc.) can be provide to insulate the glazing118 at night or during dark periods, and the like, as needed. The vents120 can be sized based on the greenhouse volume and provided on thelower east and south walls, on the upper north roof, and on the upperwest side for ventilation, as needed, and based on wind direction, andthe like. Doors 204 can be provided as needed, and the greenhouse 100can be built on top of an insulated layer 206 (e.g., made from wood orplastic pallets, plastic shelves, concrete, etc.). The vents 120 canemploy electronics motors and/or auto greenhouse solar window openers(e.g., wax filled cylinders/pistons that open upon heating, etc.) thatare programmable to fully open within a suitable temperature range(e.g., a 40-80 degree Fahrenheit, etc.).

FIGS. 3A-3D are diagrams for venting and door layouts for theillustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics andblack soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like. InFIGS. 3A-3D, venting 120 and door layouts 204 are shown for (A) eastside, (B) west side, (C) south side, and (D) top view. The vents 120 onthe lower south side are programmable, as described above, and feed thevents 120 on the upper north side to create natural ventilation withinthe greenhouse.

FIG. 4 is diagram for a black soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fishfeeder 122 for the illustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouseaquaponics and black soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder,and the like. In FIG. 4, the BSF composter and auto fish feeder 122includes a housing 402 (e.g., made from a 30 gallon black plastic tote,etc.). The housing 402 is filled with media 404 (e.g., reptile beddingmaterial, coco coir, etc.) that holds BSF larvae 406. Organic matter 408is placed on top of the media through a lid 410 for the BSF larvae 406to consume. When the larvae 406 are ready to become flies, they crawl upan inner ramp 412 (e.g., at 30-45 degrees, etc.) to an outer ramp 414and drop into the fish tank 108 (not shown) to be consumed by the fish.Advantageously, the BSF system 122 acts as a highly efficient composterfor most organic matter, and the larvae 406 provide for a high qualityfish feed. An entrance hole 416 is provided for pregnant black soldierflies to enter and lay their eggs, thus generating more BSF larvae 406.An outlet 418 is provided to capture leachate juices 420 from the BSFcomposter and which can be diluted with water (e.g., at 20:1, etc.) andput back in the fish tank 108 (not shown) to be provided to the growbeds 110 (not shown) as fertilizer.

FIG. 5 is diagram for a rocket mass heater (RMH) 104 for theillustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics andblack soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like. InFIG. 5, the rocket mass heater 104 includes an L-shaped mass chamber 502with burning wood and air 504 entering at one end, and with heated air506 exiting at the other end to heat the greenhouse 100 (not shown). TheRMH 104 can include a large mass (e.g., fire place bricks, etc.) that isheated and retains heat to be dissipated throughout the greenhouse 100(not shown). Metal coils 508 can be wrapped around the RMH 104 to heatthe fish tank water, as needed, with some electronically controlledvalves 510, and the like (e.g., for computer, internet control, etc.).The RMH 104 can be buried within the floor of the greenhouse 100 (notshown) with a layer of gravel over the top to minimize the footprint.

FIG. 6 is diagram for a geyser pump (GP) 114 for the illustrativesystems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldierfly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like. In FIG. 6, thegeyser pump 114 can include a large air chamber 602 (e.g., 4″ whiteplastic PVC pipe, etc.) with a water stand pipe 604 (e.g., 1″ whiteplastic PVC pipe, etc.) fitted in a center thereof. An air pump 606(e.g., an 18-35 watt air pump running from electric, solar, wind power,etc.) is connected to an air line 608 (e.g., ¼″ plastic line, etc.) thatpumps air into the bottom of the air chamber 602. As the air chamber 602fills with air, water from the bottom of the air chamber 602 is pumpedto the grow bed 110 (not shown), while the fish tank 108 (not shown)water is aerated. Advantageously, each grow bed 110 (not shown) includesits own geyser pump 114 and air pump 606 providing for low energyrequirements, water pumping, aeration, redundancy, and the like.

FIG. 7 is diagram for a bell siphon (BS) 116 for the illustrativesystems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldierfly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like. In FIG. 7, thebell siphon 116 can include a bell pipe 702 (e.g., 2″-4″ white plasticPVC pipe, etc.), a stand pipe 704 (e.g., ½″-1″ white plastic PVC pipe,etc.), and a siphon break line 706 (e.g., ¼″-½″ clear or opaque plastictubing, etc.). A water pipe 708 inside the grow bed 110 and connected tothe bell pipe 702 takes in water from the grow bed 110. When the waterreaches a siphon level 710 set by the stand pipe 704 lower than a medialevel 712 (e.g., approximately 2″ above siphon level 710, etc.), thewater starts a siphon effect and drains the water from the grow bed 110into the fish tank 108 (not shown) faster than the water can be pumpedin by the geyser pump 114 (not shown). When the water level goes down tothe bottom of the siphon break 706, air is drawn in breaking the siphon,and starting a flooding cycle in the grow bed 110 from water pumped inby the geyser pump 114. Advantageously, the bell siphon 116 is locatedexternal to the grow bed 110 for ease of cleaning, maintenance, and thelike.

FIG. 8 is diagram for a rain water collection system (RWC) 108 for theillustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics andblack soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like. InFIG. 8, the RWC system 108 can include the outside edges of the roof ofthe greenhouse 100 fitted with reflective gutters 802 for capturingrain. The captured rain flows through a rain water capture line 804 intoone or more water collection tanks 806 (e.g., black 55 gallon, plasticdrums, water wall, etc.) inside the greenhouse 100. The first watercollection tank 806 can include lime stone 808, and the like, at abottom thereof for adjusting the PH and can overflow via a connectionline 810 into further water collection tanks 806. The last watercollection tank 806 can include a water pump 812 (or e.g., can operatebased on gravity, etc.) for pumping water into the fish tank 108 (notshown), as needed (e.g., based on a float arrangement, electronicsensor, etc.). Water from the fish tank 108 can be pumped or gravity fedto a fish tank heating line 814 for circulation in the reflective gutter802 for solar heating of the fish tank water via electronicallycontrolled valves 812, and the like (e.g., for computer, internetcontrol, etc.). Advantageously, with the RWC system 106, rain water canbe collected for use by the fish tank 108, fish tank water can beheated, additional water mass for solar heating by the greenhouse 100can be provided, and the like.

FIGS. 9A-9B are diagrams for auto vent opener system 900 for theillustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics andblack soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like. InFIG. 9, the auto vent opener system 900 can include vents (A) on thenorth roof, and (B) on the lower south wall of the greenhouse 100,employing electronics motors (not shown) and/or auto greenhouse solarwindow openers 902 (e.g., wax filled cylinders/pistons that open uponheating, etc.) that are programmable to fully open within a suitabletemperature range (e.g., a 40-80 degree Fahrenheit, etc.).

The illustrative embodiments of FIGS. 1-9 can be fitted with additionalcomputer controlled sensors (e.g., temperature, humidity, O2, CO2, H2O,dissolved oxygen, PH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, electrical conductivity(EC), etc.) for greenhouse and aquaponics automation over a LAN or theInternet, and the like, as further described.

FIGS. 10-11 are diagrams for water collection and processing systems1000-1100 for the illustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouseaquaponics and black soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder,and the like. In FIG. 10, the water collection and processing systems1000 can include a black colored water wall 1002 inside the greenhouse100 for collecting rainwater and/or receiving rainwater from the RWC 106and/or a cistern (not sown). A filter 1004 and purifier 1006 is includedto provide clean water 1008 to the fish tank 108, the RWC 106, for humanuse, and the like. In FIG. 11, the water collection and processingsystems 1000 can include collected rainwater 1102, cistern water 1104,and gray water 1106 fed to the filter 1004 and purifier 1006 to provideclean water 1008 for human use 1108 that feeds the gray water 1106. Theclean water 1008 also feeds the fish tank 108 that then feeds the hardfilter 112 that feeds the grow beds 110 that feeds water back to thefish tank 108 completing the loop. The fish tank 108 and the grow beds110 can also be decoupled with respective hard filters, as needed, tooptimize for fish and/or plant growth.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for a multi-level system version 1200 of theillustrative systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics andblack soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like. InFIG. 12, the multi-level system version 1200 can be sheltered in theground 1202 and/or insulated as previously described, and withgeothermal heating and/or venting 1204. Each level 1206 separated bygrated floors 1208 can include the grow beds 110 fed from the fish tank108 via the hard filter 106 and with respective vents/solar panels 120on the south side and north roof having RWC 106. A sensor/CPU system1210 (e.g., spectral analyzer based, etc.) with gas 1212 and liquid 1214probes can be used to measure and control all relevant air and waterparameters (e.g., temperature, humidity, O2, CO2, H2O, dissolved oxygen,PH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, electrical conductivity (EC), etc.) ofthe fish tank 108 and grow beds 110 at every level 1206, as needed,including internet monitoring and control via suitable softwareapplications, and the like. A battery and inverter system 1216 can beprovided for on and/or off grid operation and switching from the solarpanels 120 and/or wind turbine (not shown), including poweringadditional lighting (not shown), and the like.

FIG. 13 is a diagram for additional features 1300 for the illustrativesystems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldierfly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder, and the like. In FIG. 13, theadditional features 1300 can include a root guard 1302 for the bellsiphon 116 for ease of cleaning and maintenance, and for providing deepwater culture (DWC) functionality via a media filled net pot or a raft1304 within the media bed grow bed 110. The grow bed 110 can also beconfigured a wicking bed by providing media separator 1306 (e.g., madeof burlap or weed guard material, etc.) between hydroponic media 1308and/or soil media 1310. A mushroom substrate 1312 with a clear glass orplastic cover 1314 can be placed in the media 1310 for growing ediblemushrooms, advantageously, providing exchange of CO2 and O2, biologicalfiltering of nitrates, an additional food source, and the like. Theflood and drain action of the grow bed 110, advantageously, maintainshumidity and provides air exchange, and the like, for mushroomcultivation, and the like.

FIGS. 14A-14B is an illustrative hard filter employed in the systems andmethods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and black soldier fly (BSF)composter and auto fish feeder of FIGS. 1-13. In FIGS. 14A-14B, the hardfilter 112 can include a water inlet pipe 1402. The water inlet pipe1402 can be fed with water from the fish tank 108 via a geyser pump orwater pump (not shown) coupled to the fish tank 108. The input waterfrom the water inlet pipe 1402 is fed to a stilling well 1404 thatcouples to a funnel-shaped settling chamber 1406. The funnel-shapedsettling chamber 1406 is coupled to a valve 1408 coupled to an outputdrain pipe 1410 for purging fish waste that is settled in the settlingchamber 1406. The water input from the water inlet pipe 1402 fills up inthe settling chamber 1406 and then rises and passes through a series ofone or more media filters 1412 (e.g., Matala® type advanced filtermedia) configured around the stilling well 1404, and starting from thebottom of the settling chamber 1406 with a coarse filter 1412 up to afine filter 1412 near the top of the stilling well 1404. The water thenrises and is filtered through the media filters 1412. The filtered waterthen enters a weir chamber 1414 having air stones 1420 resting on thetop media filter 1412. The air stones 1420 provide for degassing of thefiltered water in the weir chamber 1414. Around the weir chamber 1414 isprovided a sponge type filter 1416 to further filter the water beforethe filtered water is output through an output pipe 1418 back to thefish tank 108 and/or grow beds 110. Water plants and algae (not shown),such as Duckweed, beneficial algae, and the like, can be grown in thefiltered water in the weir chamber 1414 for further filtering of thewater and for use as fish feed supplements. Advantageously, the algaegrown in the weir chamber 1414 can include omega fatty acids typicallymissing from conventional farmed fish. Employing a geyser pump (notshown) to feed the water inlet pipe 1402, advantageously, allows for thesystem of FIGS. 1-14 to be run without employing any conventional waterpumps, as with conventional aquaponics systems.

FIG. 15 is an illustrative geyser pump air distribution configurationemployed in the systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics andblack soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder of FIGS. 1-14 and16-17. In FIG. 15, the geyser pump 114 air distribution configurationcan include respective solar panels 1502 (and/or e.g., small windturbines, not shown) and batteries 1504 coupled to the respective airpumps 606 for the respective grow beds 110 (not shown). The air pumps106 are coupled to respective air tanks 1506 via one way valves 1508.The respective air tanks 1506 are coupled in series via respectivepressure release valves 1510 configured for maintaining a suitable airpressure to power the respective geyser pumps 114. As the first air tankfills to pressure, the valves 1510 allow for filling of the subsequentair tanks 1506 until the last tank 1506 is full. When the air tanks 1506are filled to capacity, the power to the air pumps 606 from thebatteries 1504 can be turned off with a suitable air powered solenoidswitch (not shown) and triggered by one or more of the respectivepressure release valves 1510. Advantageously, such air distributionconfiguration allows for the system to be run solely from air and viasolar power and/or wind power, and with N-way redundancy.

FIG. 16 is an illustrative rocket mass heater configuration employed inthe systems and methods for solar greenhouse aquaponics and blacksoldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder of FIGS. 1-15 and 17.In FIG. 16, the rocket mass heater 104 configuration can include arocket stove 1602 having an air feed 1608, fuel chamber 1606 and heatedgas output 1610. The heated gas output 1610 is coupled to one or moresuitable masses 1604 (e.g., cylindrical or square tube shaped clay fluepipes, etc.) coupled to each other via respective gas input and exhaustports 1612 and 1614. The exhaust port of the final mass 1604 can becoupled to a gas exit pipe (not shown). Advantageously, the hot gassesfrom the gas output 1610 of the rocket stove 1602 enter the first mass1604 and rise, and then exit when cooled down from a lower portionthereof via the first gas output 1612 coupled to the second mass 1604,and so on, to efficiently heat each of the masses 1604 with cooler andcooler gasses in series.

FIG. 17 is an illustrative on-demand aquaponics or hydroponicsconfiguration employed in the systems and methods for solar greenhouseaquaponics and black soldier fly (BSF) composter and auto fish feeder ofFIGS. 1-16. In FIG. 17, the on-demand aquaponics or hydroponicsconfiguration 1700 can include respective hydroponics tanks 1702 havingrespective geyser pumps 1704 therein for pumping hydroponic water fromthe tanks 1702 to the respective grow beds 110 that can also be fed withwater from the fish tank 108 via the respective geyser pumps 114.Respective air switches 1706 allow for selection of air to be deliveredto the respective geyser pumps 1704 and/or 114. The respective outputwater from the grow beds 110 can be cycled back to the respectivehydroponics tanks 1702 and/or the fish tank 108 via respective selectorvalves 1708 and 1710. Advantageously, each of the grow beds 110 can beconfigured to cycle water from the fish tank 108 and/or the respectivehydroponics tanks 1702. Such a configuration, advantageously, allows forcycling of, for example, high nitrate fish tank 108 water to one or moreof the grow beds 110 for vegetative growth by sending air to only one ormore of the geyser pumps 114 via suitable configuration of therespective air switches 1706 and the respective selector valves 1708 and1710. After a desired vegetative growth stage is complete in one or moreof the grow beds 110, cycling of, for example, low nitrate, highphosphorous and potassium, and the like, hydroponics tanks 1702 water toone or more of the grow beds 110 for flower and fruiting growth can beaccomplished by sending air to only one or more of the geyser pumps 1704via suitable configuration of the respective air switches 1706 and therespective selector valves 1708 and 1710. Advantageously, plants thatrequire high nitrates and/or plants that require low nitrates and highphosphorous and potassium, and the like, can be accommodated in one ormore of the respective grow beds 110 with suitable configuration of therespective air switches 1706 and the respective selector valves 1708 and1710.

Advantageously, the illustrative systems and methods allow for efficientand cost-effective greenhouse and fish feeding systems for theaquaponics, and the like.

Although the illustrative systems and methods are described in terms ofaquaponics, the illustrative systems and methods can be applied to anyother types of aquaculture and greenhouse technologies, as will beappreciated by those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts.

The above-described devices and subsystems of the illustrativeembodiments can include, for example, any suitable servers,workstations, PCs, laptop computers, PDAs, Internet appliances, handhelddevices, cellular telephones, wireless devices, other devices, and thelike, capable of performing the processes of the illustrativeembodiments. The devices and subsystems of the illustrative embodimentscan communicate with each other using any suitable protocol and can beimplemented using one or more programmed computer systems or devices.

One or more interface mechanisms can be used with the illustrativeembodiments, including, for example, Internet access, telecommunicationsin any suitable form (e.g., voice, modem, and the like), wirelesscommunications media, and the like. For example, employed communicationsnetworks or links can include one or more wireless communicationsnetworks, cellular communications networks, G3 communications networks,Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTNs), Packet Data Networks (PDNs),the Internet, intranets, a combination thereof, and the like.

It is to be understood that the devices and subsystems of theillustrative embodiments are for illustrative purposes, as manyvariations of the specific hardware used to implement the illustrativeembodiments are possible, as will be appreciated by those skilled in therelevant art(s). For example, the functionality of one or more of thedevices and subsystems of the illustrative embodiments can beimplemented via one or more programmed computer systems or devices.

To implement such variations as well as other variations, a singlecomputer system can be programmed to perform the special purposefunctions of one or more of the devices and subsystems of theillustrative embodiments. On the other hand, two or more programmedcomputer systems or devices can be substituted for any one of thedevices and subsystems of the illustrative embodiments. Accordingly,principles and advantages of distributed processing, such as redundancy,replication, and the like, also can be implemented, as desired, toincrease the robustness and performance of the devices and subsystems ofthe illustrative embodiments.

The devices and subsystems of the illustrative embodiments can storeinformation relating to various processes described herein. Thisinformation can be stored in one or more memories, such as a hard disk,optical disk, magneto-optical disk, RAM, and the like, of the devicesand subsystems of the illustrative embodiments. One or more databases ofthe devices and subsystems of the illustrative embodiments can store theinformation used to implement the illustrative embodiments of thepresent inventions. The databases can be organized using data structures(e.g., records, tables, arrays, fields, graphs, trees, lists, and thelike) included in one or more memories or storage devices listed herein.The processes described with respect to the illustrative embodiments caninclude appropriate data structures for storing data collected and/orgenerated by the processes of the devices and subsystems of theillustrative embodiments in one or more databases thereof.

All or a portion of the devices and subsystems of the illustrativeembodiments can be conveniently implemented using one or more generalpurpose computer systems, microprocessors, digital signal processors,micro-controllers, and the like, programmed according to the teachingsof the illustrative embodiments of the present inventions, as will beappreciated by those skilled in the computer and software arts.Appropriate software can be readily prepared by programmers of ordinaryskill based on the teachings of the illustrative embodiments, as will beappreciated by those skilled in the software art. Further, the devicesand subsystems of the illustrative embodiments can be implemented on theWorld Wide Web. In addition, the devices and subsystems of theillustrative embodiments can be implemented by the preparation ofapplication-specific integrated circuits or by interconnecting anappropriate network of conventional component circuits, as will beappreciated by those skilled in the electrical art(s). Thus, theillustrative embodiments are not limited to any specific combination ofhardware circuitry and/or software.

Stored on any one or on a combination of computer readable media, theillustrative embodiments of the present inventions can include softwarefor controlling the devices and subsystems of the illustrativeembodiments, for driving the devices and subsystems of the illustrativeembodiments, for enabling the devices and subsystems of the illustrativeembodiments to interact with a human user, and the like. Such softwarecan include, but is not limited to, device drivers, firmware, operatingsystems, development tools, applications software, and the like. Suchcomputer readable media further can include the computer program productof an embodiment of the present inventions for performing all or aportion (if processing is distributed) of the processing performed inimplementing the inventions. Computer code devices of the illustrativeembodiments of the present inventions can include any suitableinterpretable or executable code mechanism, including but not limited toscripts, interpretable programs, dynamic link libraries (DLLs), Javaclasses and applets, complete executable programs, Common Object RequestBroker Architecture (CORBA) objects, and the like. Moreover, parts ofthe processing of the illustrative embodiments of the present inventionscan be distributed for better performance, reliability, cost, and thelike.

As stated above, the devices and subsystems of the illustrativeembodiments can include computer readable medium or memories for holdinginstructions programmed according to the teachings of the presentinventions and for holding data structures, tables, records, and/orother data described herein. Computer readable medium can include anysuitable medium that participates in providing instructions to aprocessor for execution. Such a medium can take many forms, includingbut not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, transmissionmedia, and the like. Non-volatile media can include, for example,optical or magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks, and the like. Volatilemedia can include dynamic memories, and the like. Transmission media caninclude coaxial cables, copper wire, fiber optics, and the like.Transmission media also can take the form of acoustic, optical,electromagnetic waves, and the like, such as those generated duringradio frequency (RF) communications, infrared (IR) data communications,and the like. Common forms of computer-readable media can include, forexample, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, anyother suitable magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, CDRW, DVD, any other suitableoptical medium, punch cards, paper tape, optical mark sheets, any othersuitable physical medium with patterns of holes or other opticallyrecognizable indicia, a RAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EPROM, any othersuitable memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave or any other suitablemedium from which a computer can read.

While the present inventions have been described in connection with anumber of illustrative embodiments, and implementations, the presentinventions are not so limited, but rather cover various modifications,and equivalent arrangements, which fall within the purview of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An aquaponics, and greenhouse system comprising:a solar greenhouse insulated on north, east and west sides and withglazing on a south side at an angle to maximize winter sunlight, andhousing: a fish tank housed within the solar greenhouse; and a pluralityof grow beds coupled to the fish tank and also housed within the solargreenhouse; a hard filter coupled to the fish tank through a hard filtergeyser pump filters water from the fish tank, and including: a stillingwell receiving water from the fish tank pumped by the hard filter geyserpump; a solids collection chamber with the stilling well disposedtherewithin; a plurality of filter media sections of varying coarsenessfor providing mechanical filtration disposed around the stilling well,including a coarser media section near a bottom of the solids collectionchamber, and finer media section near a top of the solids collectionchamber; one or more air stones disposed on top portion of the finermedia section; aquatic plants including one or more of algae, andDuckweed, providing biological filtration and growing on a water surfaceover the air stones; and a sponge filter receiving overflow water fromthe aquatic plants and with an output thereof provided to the fish tank.2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a rocket mass heaterinside the greenhouse to heat the greenhouse and fish tank water, andcomprising an L-shaped mass with an interior metal column with metalcoils wrapped around the metal column to heat water from the fish tankcirculating therethrough.
 3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:a rain water collection system for the greenhouse to capture rain waterfrom the greenhouse and to heat fish tank water, and comprising a rainwater container inside the greenhouse to hold the rain water and coupledto the fish tank, and a rain gutter made of a reflective materialprovided around a roof of the greenhouse and coupled to the rain watercontainer to capture rain water, and a water pump coupled to the rainwater container to recirculate the rain from the rain water container tothe reflective rain gutter to heat fish tank water.
 4. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising: a plurality of hydroponic tanksrespectively coupled to the grow beds and also housed within the solargreenhouse; and each one of the plurality of grow beds is coupled to afish tank geyser pump internal to the fish tank, and a hydroponic tankgeyser pump internal to a respective one of the hydroponic tanks,wherein the fish tank and hydroponic tank geyser pumps are powered by anexternal air pump via an air selector switch to pump and aerate waterfrom the hydroponic tank to the grow bed and to pump water from the fishtank to the grow bed and aerate water of the fish tank.
 5. The system ofclaim 1, further comprising: a black soldier fly (BSF) composting andauto fish feeder for converting organic matter into BSF larvae for fishfeed, and comprising a BSF container having an internal ramp, and anexternal ramp, with the internal ramp disposed within the BSF container,and with the external ramp coupled to the internal ramp and disposedover the fish tank so that the BSF larvae can crawl up the internal rampand drop off from the external ramp into the fish tank as the fish feed.6. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a spectral analyzer basedsensor having a gas probe disposed within the greenhouse to measure airparameters of the greenhouse including temperature, humidity, O2, andCO2 levels in the greenhouse, and a water probe disposed within the fishtank to measure water parameters of the fish tank water includingdissolved oxygen, PH, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, and electricalconductivity (EC) levels of the fish tank water, and a computer coupledto the spectral analyzer based sensor and configured to control one ormore of the air and water parameters based on the measured air and waterparameters levels.
 7. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the growbeds includes a bell siphon external to the grow bed and configured todrain the water from the grow bed back into the fish tank and from thegrow bed back into the respective hydroponic tank, and each bell siphoncomprises a bell siphon housing with an open end and closed top, withthe open end of the bell siphon housing coupled to a bottom of the growbed, and a bell siphon standpipe extending within the bell siphonhousing and coupled to the fish tank to drain the water from the growbed back into the fish tank, and to the respective hydroponic tank viarespective valves.
 8. The system of claim 4, wherein each of the fishtank and hydroponic tank geyser pumps comprises a geyser pump housingwith an open bottom and closed top, with an air inlet provided in thegeyser pump housing coupled to the air pump, and a geyser pump standpipeextending through the closed top of the geyser pump housing to an insideof the geyser pump housing and coupled to a top of the grow bed to pumpand aerate the water from the fish tank or the respective hydroponictank to the top of the grow bed.